SC may revisit Lodha panel’s one-state, one-vote policy

NEW DELHI: The recommendation of Justice R M Lodha panel on one-state, one-vote policy may be reconsidered by the Supreme Court which said it may look at the only aspect relating to loss of full membership of some units.

One of the Justice Lodha panel’s recommendations, which was later approved by the apex court in its 2016 verdict, was that there would be one cricket association, having full time membership and voting rights in the BCCI, in one state.

This had led to the loss of permanent membership and voting rights to iconic bodies like Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Cricket Club of India (CCI), Vidarbha Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association and Saurashtra Cricket Association. These bodies are in Maharashtra and Gujarat respectively which have separate permanent membership of the BCCI.

A bench headed by Chief Jus- tice Dipak Misra said so far as the one-state, one-vote policy with regard to north-eastern states was concerned, it will not be re-considered. However, the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, indicated that it may consider the aspect of the cricket bodies of Maharashtra and Gujarat as they have played a historic role in the development of the game and cannot be left out.

The apex court, meanwhile, asked the state cricket associations and BCCI office-bearers to give suggestions on the draft constitution for the Board to amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium before May 11, the next date of hearing.

It said the draft constitution has to be in tune with the Lodha panel recommendations and its verdict. The draft would be finalised by the court and be binding on the BCCI.

The Supreme Court also directed the Indian cricket Board to include Bihar state teams in all BCCI tournaments from the new season starting in September. The Court was hearing a contempt plea filed against board officials, including acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary and CEO Rahul Johri, by Aditya Verma of Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) on April 20 for ignoring an earlier directive.

BCCI told the court Bihar was not included for tournaments like Vijay Hazare Trophy (one-day competition) last season as there were two rival claimants for running the state unit -- CAB and Bihar Cricket Association (BCA). Amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium told the court the dispute would be solved later but aspiring cricketers should not be affected any longer.

THE COURT ASKED STATE UNITS AND BCCI OFFICE BEARERS TO GIVE SUGGESTIONS ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR THE BOARD